2.2 How Canadian Pentecostals Form a Ministerial Organization

[Deleted User]

Personally, I understand why the PAOC decided to allow a breadth of belief on their doctrinal statement. It is hard to get a doctrinal statement that answers every question any individual may have. I agree partially in that I think evangelism should be the focus, but I also think that having a doctrinal statement is important. Having a doctrinal statement helps guide the decisions being made and the direction that the organization goes. It is hard to say who should decide whether a matter is secondary or primary importance, because there will always be a difference in opinion and there is no leadership committee that is perfect. I think that deciding whether or not a matter is primary or secondary importance needs to be a long conversation with people in leadership and with the Lord to help discern what should be focused on.

[Jaylen]

Well, this is a very loaded question. Ultimately, if the scripture is clear and direct about something then it should hold the ultimate authority no matter what. On other things which it seems the Lord left for us to interpret, well I think the only filters that are mandatory in that equation are 1. humility in discussing these things, 2. genuine pursuit of truth with no selfish motives, 3. constant focus on the Spirits guidance in the process. It should be with these three things that any interpretive biblical concepts should be approached.
On the matter of the evangelical focus, I think that their heart was probably in the right place, and I have a hard time seeing that as being a bad thing; more people get saved. On the other hand, you are arguably less effective when you take your focus off of God’s word in that process. On the other, other hand, you can become insular when you mainly focus on reading the bible rather than getting out there and witnessing. I believe the middle ground between these two things is the best place to be.

[Lorna Anne]

All Christian focus should be the great commissioned of Jesus. Go and make disciple to all nations… share the love of Jesus and Doctrines follows as a guide in our ministry.

[Melany]

While having the focus on evangelism is wise, I am hesitant to go with the flow on having ones own personal views of what scripture may or may not be saying. We should interpret the Bible by the Bible. There is much room for error with a matter of opinion instead of correctly reading and understanding scripture, which can cause a lot of damage. That said, I think there is room for ‘movement’ when it is not necessarily a matter of salvation. For instance.. you do not need to be water baptized to be saved. I’d put the focus on those things fundamental to salvation and trust the Holy Spirit to bring correction where it is needed, to avoid unnecessary disputes, but be firm on issues of salvation, such as, there is only one way to the Father, and that is through Jesus. Believing in His virgin birth, perfect life, crucifixion and being raised back to life on the 3rd day.. these are matters I would say we cannot leave room for movement on.